- The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has called for more understanding among telecoms subscribers over the challenges they are currently passing through, as a result of its directive to telecoms operators to deactivate every improperly registered and unregistered SIM cards on their networks.
- NCC said it is not oblivious of the challenges subscribers are going through in the process of re-registration, which they might have done before, but were not properly captured.
The commission admitted that subscribers were subjected to untold hardships in the course of re-registering their SIM cards, for no fault of theirs. It however but called for calm, explaining that the repeat of the exercise is for national interest and security.
“For millions of subscribers across the various mobile networks, this is crunch time. They are unable to use their phones because of a directive from the regulator, for the operators to immediately stop the sale and distribution of illegally preregistered SIM cards; and in fact, immediately deactivate them. The subscribers are feeling betrayed, let down and very alone; left in the lurch of despondency to experience the nightmare of a world without phone,” NCC said.
- They have poured out in their numbers to besiege the trading posts of the operators demanding for answers to their problems while NATCOMS, National Association of Telecommunications Subscribers, is threatening a law suit to address the hurt of its members. There can be no easy words to assuage the level of indignation being felt here.” NCC said in a statement.
Director, Public Affairs at NCC, Mr. Tony Ojobo, who conveyed the feelings of the NCC, however said this was not the intention of the Commission, the reason why he had to appear on various news channels to explain that the decision was actually taken for the good of country and its people.
